The core product is what matters, but shouldn’t complimentary extras be taken into account, like the original box, and instruction manual? Should you accept these extras as missing for the same value as an identical twin with these extras? Absolutely not.
But guess what? GameStop, and other retailers are guilty of not offering a price difference between complete, used products, and incomplete, used products. This is unacceptable in wake of the price difference of new, and used products. Frankly I’m surprised that this has hardly been brought up before.
Complete product should not be sold for an identical value to incomplete product, as it is not of identical value. This fact is widely recognized, and yet many businesses attempt to slide by selling varying conditions of the same product for the same price.
To clarify, new products include everything the manufacture intended for the consumer in perfect condition. Used products can be missing any number of things or be damaged to any extent. New products has a definitive, given quality, which allows every new copy to be of identical price, however, since used products can vary so drastically in quality, how can all of it be of identical price?
Let’s say an individual purchases a car, and sells or trades it back in about the same condition. Now imagine the story is identical for another person who brings in the same type of vehicle to trade or sell on the exception that it’s scratched-up, missing panels in its interior and so forth. Would it be fair for the dealership to sell both of these used vehicles, that are of identical make for the same price? Obviously not, but this is what GameStop is doing with its used video games. As long as it works and is presentable Gamestop does not seem to care. It has a two-set mind: new and used. There are presently no varying conditions of price differences on used products. GameStop is seemingly assuming that all used copies are created equal, and this could not be further from the truth.
Varying condition on the video game front in a more direct manner is even more evident when you look at their collection of used portables and consoles. Some of their showpieces are scratched and/or made to scream for your attention with unattractive barbie and smiley stickers, but here they are with the same price as a near pristine used portable or console. And while this problem is mostly avoidable by selecting the better conditioned units at the same price, the problem should have already been realized, and corrected. Never should a consumer have to look at the a scratched-up unit covered with barbie stickers and a pristine unit for the same price.
While it is true that it is a person’s choice to purchase a low quality used video game or platform, shouldn’t the value be slightly different, anyhow? Is it fair for an individual to have bought the same used video game a day before, that was in near pristine condition for $25, for another individual to come in the following day to buy the same used video game for $25 without the original box and/or instruction manual? Absolutely not. There should be a price difference. This is not to say that GameStop should hike prices to make this possible, but it is a matter that probably should be addressed, as it looks downright bad to their corporate image and may be insulting to consumers.
To collectors, who like to display video game boxes, they may find it downright criminal to have to deal with in-equalized video game prices. So it is likely that GameStop, and other retailers are losing their money.
Collectors typically avoid buying a video game without its original box until they can find a used copy with its original box. Even so, it is possible for collectors to be tempted to buy a used video game without the original box and/or instruction manual without feeling cheated, if the copy without these extras was 20 or more percent cheaper, for example, than another pristine used copy. Therefore, on top of already being cheaper than new copies, the condition of said video game should be a base of how much more cheaper a specific used video game or platform should be in comparison.
It can be argued that buying a video game without its original box and/or instruction manual is akin to a digital copy, but the difference is undeniable; it is acceptable for digital copies to not have a box, because it’s a digital copy, is convenient, and is typically cheaper. However, this argument is mostly mute as a physical copy is what it is, and as long as a physical copy exist, it will be just that, and a physical copy without a box and/or instruction manual may feel like a gimped copy of the game.
The video game industry is still young, so maybe it hasn’t been fully realized yet, but a video game or platform with the box and/or instruction manual is significantly more desirable than without, as the product increases in age. This can be quickly affirmed by looking at NES collections. NES collections with boxes are worth a lot more than collections without boxes.
If you feel the same, contact GameStop, and any other offending retailers about this issue.
The Games' Temple 
Great article and I agree with your argument. The only thing that I would say is that most people are not collectors and only care about the game. Thus, I honestly think that Gamestop is the one who is hurting here and they are loosing out on a lot of money. Take for example that Pokemon game you showed. Well, if people are buying the used copy (without the box and all) for $25, then Gamestop could easily sell the complete packaged used copy for $30 or $35. I dont think it is a problem for the consumer though, because they could buy the premium used copy for the same price as just the used game. Do you see what I mean?
i’ve always had a beef with gamestop, etc over this.
as if pricing used copies roughly 10 percent below the price of new, when a store doesn’t have any “good” copies, and only the incomplete ones with generic store packaging, and then doesn’t adjust it accordingly… my shopper’s conscience kicks in and immediately recognizes the lack of value, or at least the disparity of value.
curious what gamestop or another used store would have to say about this if you contacted them for comment?
I have to say that I agree fully with the article. Games being sold with or without their proper packaging shouldn’t be sold at the same prices.
While I certainly agree that, to the connoisseur, there is a major difference between just the game and the game with the box/instructions, however, I don’t think this is a main concern to the majority of GameStop customers.
I think GameStop is making plenty of bank currently, that they don’t really need to change their business model, although of course I don’t agree with it. Also, it would be pretty hard for them to make these prices changes. What? $2 off if no instructions, $3 off if no box, and $5 off if neither? How do they decide? And the main concern here, aside from having 10 different SKUs for each product, is confusing the costumers who have no idea why this copy of the game is $14.26, and the other is $12.73.
So, while I agree with the premise, overall, I don’t think it’s a manageable thing to do for such a big business, with so many games and so many stores. It would be nice if you could haggle when you purchase the game, but there’s just no way. If anything, they would then offer LESS choice, and just say all used games either come with everything, or come with nothing. Then the customers would lose out on certain things. If it was all, then you couldn’t sell your games to the store if you didn’t have everything, so lots of customers would get turned down, and GameStop would lose money. Also, they’d have less used copies, so again, the store loses money and gamers lose the chance to buy. If it was nothing, then gamers would again lose by not having all the goodies.
But yeah, haggling would probably be the way to go. Find a manager and ask if you could get a discount off the price if there is no box or instructions. They have the power, I would think, to change the price, so it’s worth a shot.
And like your car example, that’s kind of how buying a used car is. They start at a set price, and then if you see scratches or notice the tires are worn or something, you can haggle the price down.
I really like the car example as well. Really makes it relatable. I also agree with your point about them being priced differently. It’s also the reason why I’m reluctant to buy used games sometimes. I’m not from the USA so I’m not used to this whole Used games from a store thing but, the idea of buying preowned games at the same price regardless of the condition is a bit unfair to me.
Honestly, you lost me at the car analogy. The standard everyday customer is not a collector and doesn’t know quality. As long as the game works, they don’t really care if they walk out with just a disk or cart with no instructions or box as long as the game works.